Busy week
Wheew, what a crazy week. Went camping with the kids on the Canada Day long weekend, where I had a chance to shoot some fireworks. This was my first time trying this. Example above and below. Here is what I found tough that night about this type of photography.
- Focus – where do you focus? Its pitch black and for a quick second you get a short burst of light. That’s all there was to aim at. Of course auto focus is out of the question. So it was a bit of a guessing game on my part. I picked a small aperture, so I tried to imagine how far out the fireworks would go and focus about a third into the scene on manual focusing. The depth of field should hopefully take care of the rest. I did get some sharp images, but also a fair bit of blurred images, so perhaps the lens I was using has a problem with focus creep (if that is even possible) when the camera is tilted up wards. I have to look into that a bit more.
- The bugs – The camp ground was on a lake, so of course they would shoot the fireworks out over the lake. So I picked a spot just by the shore about 100 ft away from where they were launching. I got bitten by mosquitoes so bad on my left hand that I had a hard time bending my fingers the next day. My neck and face was in the all-you-can-eat/drink zone too, so that was not fun at all. Next time, I’ll bring a bug-jacket. I just didn’t want to take the chance and spray bug spray on me and then by accident get some on my gear. I hear that stuff is pretty aggressive.
Back at work for Monday and Tuesday, then of to Toronto for Scott Kelby’s Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It seminar, which by the way was absolutely outstanding. If he brings this seminar close to a city near you, sign up – you wont be disappointed. I also had the pleasure of meeting Terry White at this seminar. Great guy and extremely helpful.
A couple of busy days back at work before the weekend, this time fighting of a cold I probably got at camp. I’m still a bit under the weather but its going the right way.
Being off-line for a week means that I still haven’t caught up on all the blogs I usually visit, I’m working on it though. But boy did I miss some good ones this week. Like Mike Olbinski’s Phoenix Haboob time-lapse movie. Scott Wood also made a movie of the event. The time-lapse movies these guys made was just spectacular, and congrats on all the attention they got out of it. Simply amazing.
Then there was Zack Arias review of the Fuji x100 camera. Best review I have read in ages! Check it out. A guy next to me at the seminar had just purchased this camera at a store in Toronto the day before and I had the pleasure of checking it out. Very nice camera, with some great features.
I hope within the next couple of days I get around to all of your posts. In the mean time, take care.
Great catches Jan – sounds like you’ve had a very busy week too!
Check out Celebration Time from Curt Fleenor
July 11, 2011 at 7:23 am
Nice shots Jan. Sounds like you need a vacation
Check out Heavy Load from Len Saltiel
July 11, 2011 at 7:49 am
Excellent work. I simply put the lens on manual focus and set it for infinity. Have you tried time lapse photography?
Check out The Old Dunning School from Rob
July 11, 2011 at 8:56 am
Thanks for the link man, this is a pretty nice fireworks shot!
Check out Waking up from a dream from Mike Olbinski
July 11, 2011 at 10:11 am
Really cool set of shots here Jan! Now time for a break!
Check out Candid signs from Dave DiCello
July 11, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Jan This was your first time shooting fireworks? I think you did a fabulous job. Love the pics. I’ve been wanting to try and shoot fireworks and was going to they on Canada day but we had guests over.Next time.
Check out The Island of Burano from Edith Levy
July 11, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Whew, having fun can be exhausting! Sounds like a wonderful week and unique captures. Shooting in Bulb mode and using a remote switch allows you capture multiple bursts in one frame.
Check out Zoe from Barbara Youngleson
July 11, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Beautiful images Jan. It sounds like you paid the price for them.
July 11, 2011 at 7:39 pm
Wonderful images, Jan. So colorful and crisp.
Check out Run Aground from Jimi Jones
July 12, 2011 at 2:09 am
Oooohh, that second shot is fantastic! Great capture my friend!
July 12, 2011 at 2:11 am
Jan did an awesome job.Sorry about the mosquitos.I wish you wouldve got the firework that blew up on me right after i lit it.I bet you i was covered in fire and white phosphorus!
July 12, 2011 at 3:00 am
That first shot is really cool. Looks so close. The red smoke just makes it IMO.
Check out Life In The Pixel Age from A.Barlow
July 12, 2011 at 1:41 pm
I love these two shots. The second one is really cool like it’s spraying up into the sky.
Check out Serve The People from Max Bronson
July 12, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Fantastic fireworks shots. Hopefully from the new house I will get some nice firework shots as well! I will check out some of the links you mentioned! Great work as usual
Check out Table for Two? from Adam Allegro
July 17, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Great shots, Jan.
You’ve brought the fireworks back to life in these images. Nice work!
Check out Roadside Stand from Jimi Jones
July 19, 2011 at 11:22 pm
I really love the explosion oc color and light in the first image! Lovely work.
August 4, 2011 at 10:00 am